Just not good enough: Micah Richards assesses Manchester City form and thinks it could be time for Carlos Tevez

Micah Richards has delivered a damning verdict on Manchester City’s recent form: “It’s just not good enough.” And the full-back feels the impending return of Carlos Tevez may be just the boost the Blues need.

“There's no excuses. That's our second loss in four days and we need to go back to the drawing board, see where we're going wrong because it's just not good enough.”

The inquest into two consecutive defeats has already begun at City. It is only the second time this season the Blues have lost two on the trot.

The other time saw them crash out of the FA Cup in defeat by United, and then step towards the brink of Carling Cup oblivion by losing at home to Liverpool in the semi-final first leg.

Now defeats at Sporting Lisbon and Swansea have threatened the Blues’ chances in their remaining two competitions.

Last time it happened, City won six of their next seven league games to keep United at arm’s length, and now Richards wants a similar response.

“I don't put it down to one thing,” he said. “We're the same players – we're missing some key players, like our captain Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott has got a little knock as well, and they are big players for us at the back.

“But I can't put a finger on it. It's just not good enough.”

Tevez is pencilled in for a possible return in City's next Premier League game – against Chelsea a week tomorrow - and after two flat performances, the return of the leading goalscorer for the last two seasons could be the boost they need, says Richards.

“I've always been a big fan of Tevez. Every time I've been asked I've always said that I love him,” he said.

Tevez

“There were games last season when he carried us on his own. There were games like the one against Swansea last season where he would get a 1-0 win for us.

“Ultimately, it's up to the manager but I'd love to see him back.”

Some City fans are afraid that involvement in the Europa League may be costing the Blues, and Richards says the trip to Lisbon did not help, especially as they flew into south Wales on Saturday evening.

“It's hard because you're playing Sunday, Thursday,” he said. “We stayed in Portugal until Saturday, didn't get to the hotel until 7.30-8pm after a two-and-a-half hour journey and it does take it out of you.

"We're not going to moan about it because we've been in the Europa League before. We knew it was going to be Thursdays and Sundays so we can't moan – we must get on with it and have more than enough players to get on with it.”

Defeat at the Liberty Stadium, coupled with United’s 2-0 win over West Brom at Old Trafford, saw the Blues off top spot following a full round of Premier League fixtures for the first time since October 15, and that was a blow, admitted the England defender.

He said: “That's the most disappointing thing. Having been first for so long, we've now slipped down to second. It's not over but with United it's always going to be hard to pip them.

“This result has made that game at our place on April 30 even more massive now.”

But the Blues can’t afford to look to that game – they have to keep pace with United in the meantime, and that makes next Wednesday’s home clash with Chelsea a huge game.

By then it is likely the gap will be four points, as United have a straightforward game at Wolves at the weekend, when City are without a fixture.

“We don't want to look at it like that,” said Richards. “We have to focus on what we want to do. Chelsea is the next game and that will be tough.

“But it's at home where we're strong. We've got strengths and it's a game that we have to win now.

“Everyone was saying last year when we got to the FA Cup final that we wouldn't win it, it would be 20 years before we won a trophy and yet we did it. I still think we can do it again.”

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